A common fallacy is that obesity is almost exclusively caused by individual choices. While personal choice is certainly a factor, it is not the most significant one. More evidence shows that systems changes are needed to combat the epidemic, but the existing fallacy undermines the support for systems changes. Social marketing holds the most potential to remove myths about obesity, having originally created some of them. The author encourages social marketers to carefully consider their role in promoting systems and environmental changes and individual behavior change within a system change approach.
Degrees, March 2016